Understanding the Dark Web and the security risks it poses is an important first step in protecting your company’s data. Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) are uniquely vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks due to immature or inadequate cybersecurity practices. In 2021, 61% of SMBs experienced a cyberattack, which can be costly and debilitating.
What is the Dark Web?
The Dark Web is a part of the internet concealed from regular users. To access the Dark Web, hackers need to download special software, such as TOR, that allows them to surf anonymously. TOR, i.e., the Onion Router, uses layered encryption to protect a user’s privacy. TOR blocks user tracking by hiding where a user’s data is from and where it is going.
What Are the Risks of the Dark Web
The Dark Web is infamous for the sale of data, banking information, illegal goods, and hacking information. It can be responsible for company data breaches, the sale of employee credentials and privacy information, the sale of company data by ex-employees, and severe ransomware and/or malware attacks. The Dark Web can be a costly place to find any of your business’s sensitive data; avoiding it is a top cybersecurity priority.
How to Protect Your SMB
Consider implementing the following four practices to protect your SMB from the Dark Web:
- Durable firewall to protect company data
- Train employees on internet security and best practices
- Set up a disaster recovery plan in the event of data breaches
- Keep software up to date.
While these steps will help protect your SMB from the risks of the Dark Web, there are many significant ways to protect your company. If your company is unsure of its current data security, consider partnering with a Managed Security Provider. A Managed Security Provider offers your business a team of IT experts ready to monitor and protect your SMB.
What’s Next
To better understand your business’s cybersecurity environment, contact Nuvodia for a free consultation. We pride ourselves on keeping our clients’ data as safe as possible so that the most you need to know about the dark web is that your company’s data is protected from it.